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Monday, 30 November 2015

This time, the challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and More is to make something on the theme of, 'The Night Before Christmas'.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As I drew in my head, and was turning around,Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.He had a broad face and a little round belly,That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.And laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Clement Clark Moore

As you can see, there's a lot of inspiration there!

I chose to use an image I've had for ages. It's from the Crafty Image Emporium CD from Crafty Computer Paper.I've teamed it with a Spellbinders die cut mat, and some sanded and embossed Coredinations card. I've completed the card with some gold ribbon and some die cut holly finished with red glass beads.

Monday, 16 November 2015

This time the challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and More is to make something for a winter birthday. It's my turn to host, and as long as your creation meets that requirement, you can do whatever you want, although as I'm hosting, I'll be especially looking for creations that seem wintery in some way.

For this challenge, I decided to make a card for a friend who's got a December birthday. She loves Josephine Wall images, so I headed straight for my CDRom and found this one. It always seems very wintery to me - cool blue shades and those bare trees in the background - but it's not Christmassy, so I think it's ideal.

I love my Josephine Wall CDs as the images are gorgeous, but I rarely find I like the backing papers. They often seem very pale and insipid when used with the images. Maybe that's intentional so that the images really stand out, but I feel it makes the project seem unbalanced somehow. But, through the wonders of Photoshop Elements, I can always take a small section of the image and tile it to make a paper that works perfectly, and that's what I did here. I added some framing and the sentiment, as well as mirroring part of the image, again in PSE. To finish, I added some crocheted lace and a little glitter.

I'm looking forward to visiting all the entries to this one, so I hope you can join us.

Monday, 2 November 2015

This time at Crafty Cardmakers and More, we're challenging you to be thankful about something. You might want to make a remembrance card as Armistice day's coming up, or just an old-fashioned thank you card.

For this card, I've stuck to a fairly simple design.

I've used a stamp set I got with a recent magazine. I coloured the image with Promarkers - the first time I've used them for a while! To complete the card, I made a branch of small flowers using a Sizzix Susan's Garden die set, shading the flowers and leaves with Pan Pastels and finishing the flowers with a dab of glitter glue.

March 2014

September 2013

Creative Moments Top 3

February 2012

February 2012

I Love Promarkers Winner

Crafting for All Seasons

Dude Time Doodles

Shoe of the Week April 2011

Papercrafting Journey Top Three

March 2011

Delightful Challenges Guest DT

25 March 2011

Delightful Sketches

March 2011

Crafty Cardmaking

Won October 2009, February 2010

The Stampman Award

Pollycraft Favourite

June 2010

About this Blog

I'm a cardmaker who's been into crafty things most of my adult life. It used to be knitting and stitching of various varieties (tapestry, cross stitch, hardanger and blackwork) but these days it's pretty much paper-based. I'm enjoying being part of the craft community here on Blogger, and have already learned a lot from everyone. Here you'll see the results of my efforts. Comments are welcome and appreciated.